Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1905 — UNITED STATES SENATE [ARTICLE]

UNITED STATES SENATE

SPECIAL SESSION.

Developments Tuesday make it plain that there is little chance that the San Domingo treaty will be ratified. Party lines were drawn sharply in the discussion of the treaty by the Semrte in executive session, and the support of several Democratic mejnbers, on which the friends of ratification were depending, apparently is not to be had. The Democrats will return to the fold, and on both sides it .is admitted there is little prospect the convention will be ratified. The Republicans have counted as certain the votes of Senators McEnery and Foster of Louisiana and Clark of Arkansas. Senator Gorman, the minority leader, »gave notice that these Senators are now pledged against the treaty. It is not expected that Mr. McEnery or Mr. Clark will return to Washington to vote. The discussion took on a decided partisan basis. Senators Teller, Morgan and other Democrats criticised the administration severely. Senator Teller asserted that the administration could not be blameless in permitting Commander Dinlingham to exercise so much authority. Senator Spooner defended the course of the Department of State. Senator Foraker and Cullom followed along the same lines. Senator Bacon started to address the Senate, but was seized with gastritis and was unable to go on. The Senate then adjourned. In the course of the Senate debate Wednesday on the Dominican treaty Senator Heyburn of Idaho made an extended argument in favor of the annexation of San Domingo. He declared the destiny of this, as well as other islands, was to be under the control of the United States. Senator Teller introduced a resolution of inquiry, asking the State Department for information concerning relations with the Dominican government between July 1, 1904, and March 1, 1905. Senator Cullom objected to the reading of the resolution, declaring the matter pertained to executive session. “The Senator cannot take me off the floor,” said Senator Teller, warmly. He insisted that his resolution be read. The resolution directed the State Department to send to the Senate copies of instructions given to Commander Dillinghaut and Minister Dawson regarding Dominican affairs, and al! communications relating to the treaty. The Senate then went into executive session until adjournment. Senator Morgan made a sensational speech in the executive session of the Senate Thursday, in which he charged that William Nelson Crowell of New York was a prime mover in a scheme to influence the United States in the financial affairs of San Domingo. Crowell, he alleged, was acting in the.interest of a syndicate which holds a mass of claims against Latin-American repjublics, including a large part of the debts of San Domingo, and also was trying to defeat a plan of Mr. and Mrs. Reader of Alabama to obtain certain concessions from the Dominican government. The Senate did not devote its entire time in executive session to the San Domingo treaty. The Nicaraguan extradition treaty was ratified and the Russian corporation treaty discussed nt length. The Newlands resolution calling on the President, if not incompatible with public interests, to send to the Senate certain information regarding Dominican affairs, was adopted. In the executive session of the Senate Friday Senator Morgan continued his speech, in wlrfch he disclosed the details of certain concessions sought in San Domingo by a Mr. and Mrs. Reeder, operating as the Reeder syndicate. Before the doors were closed he offered a resolution calling for an investigation of Dominican affairs ami of the facts in connection witty the negotiation of the protocols by the Senate, committee on foreign relations. Later id the secret session he challenged the Senate to adopt the resolution. He said that if this were done the charges he imide Thursday connecting William Nelson Cromwell of New York with a movement to bring about the offering of the offices of the United States to adjust the financial affairs of the Dominican government would be proved. Senator Morgan spoke until 4:45 p. m„ when Senator Foraker took the floor in defense of Mr. Cromwell. He read a telegram from Mr. Cromwell, denying he had had any dealings with I resident Morales in connection with concessions. The Senate adjourned sine die Saturday afternoon after formally reaching a decision that the San Domingo treaty could not be ratified. The Teller resolution. requesting the President to send to the Senate certain information relating to San Domingo affairs, was referred to the committee on foreign relations after an extended debate. Mr. Cullom then moved that the Senate go into executive session. Mr. Morgan endeavored to call up his resolution asking for an investigation of San Domingo affairs by the committoe on foreign relations. Mr. Cullom, however, insisted upon his motion, and nt 1:09 the doors were closed.